Unveiled: The Shocking Surprises in the Latest NBA Franchise Valuations—Which Team Skyrocketed and Which Ones Plummeted?

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Sign up for Sportico’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Diving into the staggering financial ecosystem of the NBA, it’s clear that valuing these teams isn’t just about points scored or championships won. According to Sportico’s deep-dive analysis, the average franchise clocks in at a jaw-dropping .64 billion, with the Golden State Warriors leading the pack at a colossal .5 billion, while the Memphis Grizzlies anchor the list at .2 billion. When you stack the value of all 30 teams together, you’re looking at a combined worth of 9 billion—a mind-blowing figure that tells you how much the business side of basketball really means. How did they get these numbers? By meticulously piecing together revenue data from public records and insider insights, verifying every detail with key franchise executives and financial experts, making sure this valuation game is tight and trustworthy. Alongside the team’s market worth, these calculations also include ancillary ventures like media networks, real estate holdings, and even future NBA expansions, giving us a full picture of what these franchises represent both on and off the hardwood. Curious about how all these metrics shake out? LEARN MORE To derive the market value of the 30 NBA franchises, Sportico calculated each team’s revenue relying on publicly available information and financial records, as well as interviews with those knowledgeable of team finances, including sports bankers and attorneys who actively work on NBA transactions. In the interest of accuracy, we traded candor for anonymity. This information was vetted by multiple owners, along with team or parent company CEOs, presidents, chief financial officers, media relations personnel, industry experts and investors. Below are definitions of some major metrics: Total Value: The sum of the market value of an NBA franchise combined with the value of team-related businesses and real estate holdings. Team Value: NBA franchise valuation, derived from metrics by which basketball-team transactions occur, including aggregating local and national revenues and factoring in a team-specific multiplier. This represents the market value of the team itself, excluding related businesses held by its owners. Team-Related Businesses and Real Estate Holdings: The value of a franchise or franchise owner’s equity in team-related businesses—that is, both those on the team’s balance sheet and held in distinct corporate entities—as well as government-assessed real estate related to venue, practice facilities and adjacent developments. Examples include: the Boston Celtics’ 20% interest in NBC Sports Boston, a regional sports network; and the Dallas Mavericks’ multiple subsidiaries, which own parcels of land in the Dallas metro area. Also included are WNBA franchises for the seven teams that share common ownership with an NBA club, as well as the three expansion teams awarded in 2025 that will start play between 2028 and 2030. For franchises that do not own their arenas, the value of a team’s lease—often with advantageous terms negotiated with municipal or state authorities—is captured in the Team Value category. Best of Sportico.com The average NBA team is worth .64 billion, according to data compiled by Sportico. The Golden State Warriors rank first at .5 billion, while the Memphis Grizzlies rank last at .2 billion. Below are the values of the league’s 30 franchises, which are collectively worth 9 billion.